ABACE 2012 Is A Winner, Say Organizers

ABACE organizers and exhibitors agree that the reborn show has been a great success that has put Asian business aviation firmly on the international airshow calendar. This year’s event, which ends tomorrow, fulfilled all of its objectives, according to NBAA president Ed Bolen. “We had 157 exhibitors,” he told AIN. “I’ve spoken to quite a few of them and I think its fair to say they are quite pleased with the quality of the people they are talking to.”

Next year’s ABACE show is scheduled to run April 16 to 18, but as it reviews this year’s event one matter NBAA must consider for future shows is the venue. The initial exhibition hall quickly sold out, forcing the show’s organizers to establish an exhibition pavilion adjacent to the Hawker Pacific hangar. That space quickly sold out as well, forcing NBAA to turn away additional exhibitors.

“We will work with the Shanghai Airport Authority and Hawker Pacific to see what additional space could be maximized next year,” Bolen said. “Long term, we recognize that the current footprint is not going to be sufficient, so we are in conversations with the airport authority about a potential convention center on the airport.”